PORTLAND, Ore. – Playing their second match in four days, T2 will square off against Phoenix Rising FC in the 2017 USL regular-season finale at Phoenix Rising FC Soccer Complex on Saturday, Oct. 14. Set to begin at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific), Saturday’s match will be available via a live, high-definition web stream at www.timbers2.com.
Wednesday's contest marks the second match between Portland and Phoenix this season, as T2 were dealt a 2-0 loss by Rising FC at Providence Park on Sept. 27. T2 are 4-1-1 in six all-time matches against Phoenix Rising. Additionally, Portland is undefeated in three contests (2-0-1) on the road against Phoenix.
T2 (3-22-6, 15pts) enter Saturday's regular-season finale following a 2-1 loss on the road to San Antonio FC at Toyota Field Wednesday night. After falling behind 1-0, T2 equalized in the 38th minute when defender Bill Tuiloma got on the end of midfielder Renzo Zambrano's delivery from a free kick, heading the ball into the back of the net. The finished marked Tuiloma's third headed goal of 2017, while Zambrano recorded his first career USL assist in his sixth start of the season. SAFC tallied the game-winning goal after Ryan Roushandel received forward Ever Guzman's pass just outside the six-yard box and fired his attempt into the top right corner of the net in the 71st minute.
Phoenix Rising FC (16-8-7, 55pts) enters Saturday’s game after defeating Rio Grande Valley FC Toros 2-0 at home on Oct. 7. Forward Jason Johnson, who last scored in the match against Rio Grande Valley, ranks tied for fifth in the USL and leads the team with 13 goals this season, while goalkeeper Josh Cohen, recently named the USL Player of the Month for September, has registered eight shutouts and 75 saves in 26 appearances in 2017.
